By: Matt Smith http://www.smidgenpc.com This manual is intellectual property of MakeUseOf. It must only be published in its original form. Using parts or republishing altered parts of this guide is prohibited.

There is no disputing that Vista was poorly received. Vista made changes to the file system, user interface and other critical components of the operating system that were essential. Unfortunately, such changes meant that Vista had compatibility problems. The early days of Vista were plagued with complaints about peripherals that no longer worked because there were no Vista drivers available. Some older programs also began to malfunction. Chaos ensued, and Windows 7 was called to bat early. The official retail release date of Windows 7 was October 22, 2009, less than three years after the release of Vista. Vista, by contrast, had arrived five years after XP. If you are coming from Windows XP you will still be in for a bit of a shock. Windows 7 is more refined than Vista, but there is no ignoring the fact that, in many ways, Windows 7 is fundamentally different from XP. The taskbar is completely different, and the user interface has many other large changes. You'll also find a plethora of security solutions that were not present in Windows XP. http://www.smidgenpc.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.com

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Windows 7 Starter has some features disabled. There are four versions of Windows 7 available – Starter.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. Personalization features (such as changing the wallpaper) are not available. The Upgrade Advisor will do a complete examination on your PC and let you know if anything on your computer is incompatible with Windows 7. like Windows Aero and User Account Control. but you're in otherwise familiar territory. They are as follows:     1 gigahertz processor 1 gigabyte of RAM 16 gigabyte (for 32-bit) or 20 gigabyte (for 64-bit) hard drive DirectX 9 compatible graphics processor
If you have not upgraded yet you can use the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to examine your computer's compatibility with Windows 7. It is meant primarily for netbooks and is a replacement to Windows XP in that market. Many features. and there is no support for multi-media features such as Windows Media Center. still exist. There is no Windows Aero theme.smidgenpc. Windows 7 is not entirely different.
Windows 7 Versions
Windows 7 continues the Microsoft tradition of releasing different versions of Windows for different users. The new taskbar will require some adjustment. Although Microsoft has been doing its best to distance itself from Vista.
http://www. Windows 7 Starter can't be purchased at retail. Professional and Ultimate. Home Premium.com
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.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Those coming from Vista will have it easier.
System Requirements
Windows 7 does have some minimum system requirements that your computer must meet in order for Windows 7 to run smoothly (or at all).

The differences between these were a bit confusing. Windows 7 Home Premium. Vista offered both a Home Basic and Home Premium version. but this guide is focused on home users. has everything that a home user is going to need with the possible exception of the XP compatibility mode. Windows Professional and Ultimate. You can at least personalize your netbook with XP. a feature we'll talk about more in the next chapter.
http://www. and Home Basic was more basic than you'd expect from a supposedly complete operating system. are more appropriate for business and enterprise users. it is actually less functionality than Windows XP in several ways. Windows 7 Starter aside. on the other hand. The features offered in Professional and Ultimate have their uses.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Windows 7 Home Premium is considered the least expensive full version of Windows 7 and it is the least expensive version you can buy at a retailer. As you can see in the above table.smidgenpc. but with Starter you’re stuck with the default settings.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. the break-down between Windows 7 versions makes a lot of sense. Windows 7 Professional is an upgrade that includes some useful utilities that both home and business users can appreciate. however.com
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. Windows 7 Ultimate has advanced security and language features. Feature Windows Aero Theme Personalization Features Windows Media Center Mutli-Monitor Support XP Compatibility Mode Domain Join (for business networks) Backup and Restore for Networks Bitlocker Built-In Encryption Support for 35 Different Languages Starter Home Premium Professional X X X X X X X X X X X Ultimate X X X X X X X X X
There are more than a few people who are unhappy with Microsoft's decision to make Windows 7 Starter the default operating system for netbooks. They also cost more. To help sort out what each version offers I've created the table below.

I have never heard of this occurring.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. This can be revealed by looking at the version numbers of each operating system. because it means you'll have virtually no software compatibility issues to worry about. allows you to launch a full virtual machine running Windows XP. This indicates that. The version number of Windows XP is 5.com
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. This is good news if you are migrating from Vista. Windows Vista's latest release has the version number 6.1. There is the possibility that the programs you have installed on XP won't work with Windows 7. The name of the feature actually under-sells what the feature does. Previous attempts by Microsoft to enable compatibility have functioned by making adjustments to the way the installed operating system handles a program. Windows XP is another story. While it is certainly possible that there is a Vista program somewhere in the universe that absolutely won't work on Windows 7.0.smidgenpc.
Windows XP Mode
If you have the Professional or Ultimate version of Windows 7 you can address any compatibility issues that you have with Windows XP programs by using the Windows XP Compatibility Mode feature. certain new features and changes aside. while Windows 7 has the version number of 6. The Windows XP Compatibility Mode. If a program runs on Windows Vista. it should run on Windows 7. but went no further.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Chapter 2 – Are We Compatible?
Software Compatibility
As mentioned earlier.1. This indicates that there are some major changes between XP and Windows Vista/7 that run deeper than superficial features and interface work. the underlying code of Windows Vista and Windows 7 are very similar.
http://www. on the other hand. Windows 7 is not dramatically different from Windows Vista. This is likely if the developer has not released any patches or updates for the program since the release of Windows Vista.

Many vendors are now shipping desktops with four to six gigabytes of RAM. so vendors are starting to ship many computers with a 64-bit version of Windows 7. Any program that would run in Windows XP should run in Windows XP compatibility mode. In the past almost everyone used a 32bit operating system. Installation will proceed exactly as it would on a normal PC running Windows XP.smidgenpc.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. run the program’s installer within the virtual machine running Windows XP. A 64-bit operating system can handle up to 128 gigabytes of RAM. so this is obviously not a good situation. A computer with 32-bit Windows 7 can only use four gigabytes of RAM or less (depending on the system and the system's settings).Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Running the Windows XP Compatibility Mode opens a new window on your desktop that is running a full version of Windows XP. This means that the compatibility offered through Windows XP mode is perfect.com
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. However. In effect. the way a 32-bit operating system addresses memory results in some limitations.
32-bit / 64-bit Compatibility
One new compatibility issue that is becoming more common with is compatibility between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems. your computer is running two operating systems at once. The most problematic is the limit on how much RAM a system with a 32-bit operating system can use at once. http://www. To use a program with XP mode.

however. so driver compatibility issues often become a problem when you migrate between operating systems. If you have Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate you can use Windows XP Mode to try and resolve these compatibility issues.com
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.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
However.
http://www. While most modern software does include 64-bit support. If you have 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium. you could occasionally run into programs that are only coded for 32-bit. driver compatibility is one of the worst. They are very important. the difference in the way 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems work can cause compatibility problems. but they're also very sensitive. it won't be possible to run programs that were only coded for a 32-bit operating system. The 64-bit version of XP was a very niche operating system. Drivers are pieces of code that make it possible for computer hardware to communicate with the operating system.smidgenpc. so most developers making programs for XP didn't bother coding for it. These problems mostly exist on the 64-bit side. Your biggest compatibility issues will come from programs that were created during the days of Windows XP.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.
Driver Compatibility
Of all the compatibility problems you can run into with a new operating system.

Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
If you're coming from XP you'll find that driver compatibility can still be an issue. a printer from 2001 – the vendor may have decided to discontinue support for your product. because virtually all vendors who offer Vista drivers also offer Windows 7 drivers.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.
http://www. The similarities between the operating systems make cranking out a new Windows 7 driver easy. It is ultimately up to the vendor of each piece of computer hardware to come up with the drivers for their product. They are some similar that Windows Vista drivers sometimes work on Windows 7. If you can't find Windows Vista or Windows 7 drivers for your device you're simply out of luck.smidgenpc. Windows Vista users have it easier.com
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. Resorting to such Frankenstein measures is rarely required. If you have an older product – say. so your older device won't work with new operating systems. however. Windows Vista and Windows 7 are similar in many ways. If this happens they won't be writing new drivers. As mentioned numerous times already.

smidgenpc. but rather every instance of the program currently running. that you have three Word documents open. resulting in nasty taskbar traffic jams. the new taskbar uses icons only. But while the ways we used Windows changed. and all instances of an open program are displayed by hovering over a program's icon. rectangular. and it will be highlighted to indicate that Word is currently running. Programs are now labeled only by large icons. This began to change.com
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. Having ten browser windows open while simultaneously using a word processor and playing a game of Bejeweled is not uncommon. for example.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. The Word icon will appear in the taskbar. an operating system that was made to run on computers with 66Mhz processors and 1GB hard drives. The concept of showing a task as a large. but also a necessary one.
This change can be more than a little unsettling for new users. Let's say.
The New Taskbar Layout
The new taskbar solves these traffic jams by compacting the information displayed. Changing it was a brave move by Microsoft. The Windows taskbar has long been the cornerstone of the Windows user experience. and each program is now a branch on that tree. text-labeled entity made sense because it wasn't even possible to run more than few tasks at a time. however. as computers became more powerful.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Chapter 3 – Learning the New Taskbar
A Taskbar History Lesson
The first thing that you'll notice when you start using Windows 7 is that the Windows taskbar has been given its first major revision since Windows 95. The taskbar has turned into a tree. Computers weren't powerful enough to run five or ten programs at once. To access a specific document you have open you must move your cursor
http://www. Instead of using boxes with text and an icon to indicate an open task. so there was plenty of room for displaying information. tasks are grouped by program. the taskbar didn't. The taskbar also no longer shows every single task that is open – instead. The old taskbar was created for Windows 95. a modern computer can easily run numerous programs at once. The taskbar never became full. These icons do not represent an individual instance of the program.

Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
over the Word icon. It is the area on the extreme right of the taskbar that displays mini-icons of programs running in the background.smidgenpc. to the left of the date and time. None of these icons will ever appear on the taskbar – they will only appear when you open up the menu. expanding the Notification Area causes a small menu to open upwards. This enables Windows Peek. network status and volume. Finally. Instead of expanding across the width of the taskbar.
The only three icons that appear on the left of the Windows 7 taskbar are icons for notifications. as was the case in previous versions of Windows. You can then select the document you want to edit. Windows Peek will be discussed further in the next chapter. On this menu you can see the icons of the programs running in the background and you can open those programs or edit their settings. Clicking on each icon will open up a small window or menu with relevant information.com
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.
Another major redesign of the taskbar focuses on what is now called the Notification Area. a new Aero interface feature.
http://www. such as your antivirus.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. This used be called the System Tray. you'll find a small blank rectangle with a glassy appearance. This will create a thumbnail view of the Word documents you have opened.

but it is not completely controlled by Microsoft. This feature makes it possible to perform common actions related to a program by right-clicking the icon in the taskbar. You can quickly launch the program by clicking on the icon.smidgenpc.
http://www.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. When I right-click Skype the Jumplist opens for the program.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
The New Pin and Jumplist Features
When Windows 98 launched. Each individual developer has to support the feature in their software. Microsoft has also introduced a feature called Jumplists. This is accomplished by right-clicking an icon and then clicking Pin this program to the taskbar. If the developer has not yet added Jumplist support a menu will still open when you right-click a taskbar icon. The Windows 7 taskbar gets rid of the dedicated Quick Launch section and has replaced it with the concept of “pinning” a program to the taskbar. it introduced an element of the taskbar called Quick Launch. By accessing the Jumplist for Chrome I can launch recently visited and frequently visited websites. but only default options (such as pinning or unpinning a program to the taskbar) will appear. This was an array of icons to the right of the Windows Start button. I often use Skype. Another example is Google Chrome. For example.com
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. The icons could launch a program and served as a way to quickly access a program from the taskbar.
The Jumplist feature is enabled by Windows 7. From this list I can change my Skype status. Once pinned. the icon will always appear on the taskbar even if the program is closed.

com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.
http://www. Then open the Taskbar Buttons dropdown menu and change the setting to Combine when taskbar is full.
In order to revert the taskbar back to the older style you need to take the following steps. First. This will open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window.smidgenpc. At the top of this window is the Taskbar Appearance section. you may decide that I'm insane.com
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.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Customizing the Taskbar
The Windows 7 taskbar is one of the best new features introduced in Windows 7 and will be of immense help if you do a lot of multi-tasking. With that said. To begin customizing the Windows 7 taskbar you will need to right-click a blank area of the taskbar and then select the Properties option from the menu that appears. Now press Apply at the bottom of the window. and that the new taskbar isn't something you want to use. Presto! The old taskbar is back. You can also customize specific settings to adjust how the new taskbar appears and functions. If you don't like the new taskbar you can customize it so that it works like the taskbar in Windows Vista. click the Use Small Icons checkbox.

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. On your taskbar you will find a blank rectangle on the right. The first thing many users notice about Windows Aero is that it looks better than the older Windows style. These new features range from kind of cool to incredibly useful. Aero should be on by default. Windows Aero is a “theme” for Windows. This was touched on briefly in the taskbar chapter. Windows Aero is a type of user interface. When you pick a theme your computer will instantly change to that theme. remember that Windows 7 Starter can't use Personalization options. to render the interface.smidgenpc. That's it! If you for some reason don't like Windows Aero you can switch back to Windows Basic (the old style) in this same window.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Chapter 4 – Using and Customizing Windows Aero
The Basics of Aero
According to Microsoft's own literature. and although it looks similar to the older interface in many ways. but if Windows 7 does not have Aero active you'll need to take the following steps. Windows Aero has numerous useful features that make it easier to use Windows 7.
http://www.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. rather that CPU power. it is much more than that. Right-click on your Desktop and then click Personalization. and these effects are used to enable new functionality. Although you may not realize it at first. The Windows Aero themes will be at the top. This will open a window that is dominated by a selection of themes. Using the GPU makes it easier to enable special effects in the interface. it is actually quite different. Hovering your cursor over this will cause all of the windows you have open to become transparent – this is the Aero Peek feature. This difference in appearance is indicative of the new interface's use of GPU power.
New Aero Interface Features
Microsoft has added some new features to Windows Aero in Windows 7. In reality. so you won't be able to use Windows 7 Aero. Also. One feature added is Aero Peek.

Windows XP was a real pain to mess with because many parts of the interface had to be adjusted independently if you wanted to customize the appearance of the operating system.com
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. If you'd like to customize the appearance of Windows 7 you can begin by rightclicking on the Desktop and then clicking Personalization. The window's size will be automatically adjusted so that it takes up the left half of the screen. Hover or click on the program's icon in order to open the thumbnail view.
Learning to Customize Aero
The ease with which Aero can be customized is a major improvement over previous versions of Windows.smidgenpc. All of your windows except for the one that you are using will be minimized. To activate Aero Shake you just need to grab a window with your mouse cursor and shake it like a dog shakes a chew toy. Aero Snap will also automatically maximize a window if you drag it to the top of the display. If you drag a second window to the right side of your monitor it will be automatically sized to take up the right hand of the screen. This is immensely useful when you need to compare the contents of two windows. Although you might feel a bit silly using this one in a busy office. That's nothing. No. Grab the window and drag it back and forth rapidly. however. compared to Aero Snap.
http://www.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. Then hover over a thumbnail to activate Aero Peek. I'm not kidding – try it.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
The Aero Peek feature can also be accessed through open programs on your taskbar. Another new (and hilarious to use) feature is called Aero Shake. it is actually a convenient feature. This will open a window that displays the themes available. Windows 7 provides customization options that are easier to understand. This new feature is activated by dragging a window to either side of your monitor and holding it there for a second.

Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
At the top there is a section called My Themes. Picking one of these will cause the Windows Color and Appearance window to change to the color you selected as a means of demoing the color. We'll talk about that feature more in the last section of this chapter. and at the top of the Windows Color and Appearance window you'll find some preselected suggestions.smidgenpc. Below that are the pre-loaded Aero themes. To customize the appearance of Aero. If you'd like. Aero lets you change the color of the Aero theme to anything you'd like. all of the pre-loaded themes include a wallpaper slideshow.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.com
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. find Windows Color at the bottom of the Personalization window. This is where any themes you create and save will appear. Note that with the exception of the Windows 7 theme. Click on it to open the Windows Color and Appearance window. you can simply pick a theme and be done with it.
http://www.

scrollbars. hyperlinks. If you don't like the transparent effects in Windows Aero you can turn it off.
http://www. To display it you'll need to click on the drop-down arrow.smidgenpc.com
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. but far from least. Below the Color Intensity slider you'll find the Color Mixer.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Below the color suggestions is a checkbox labeled Enable Transparency. You will also see a slider labeled Color Intensity. This is where you can get into the real nitty-gritty of changing Windows 7's appearance. If you place it all the way to the right the color you select will be nearly opaque. This slider dictates how bright the color you select for Windows Aero will be.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. Last. even with transparency on. You can change the colors of menus. Opening this will open an old-fashion Window Color and Appearance window. Honestly. fiddling with the color options here will make it look like a disco ball exploded in your computer. This should be on by default. but it doesn't hurt to experiment. is Advanced Appearance Settings. and more. If you place it all the way to the left the color you select won't show up at all. The color mixer lets you make your own custom colors for display by Windows Aero.

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.smidgenpc. Stretch. These options have the following effects.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Learning to Customize Wallpapers
Windows 7 also lets you customize the appearance of your desktop with a variety of wallpaper options. At the bottom of the Personalization window you will find the Desktop Background option.
http://www. However. Click on this top open the Desktop Background window.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. To access these options you will again need to open the Personalization window by right-clicking on your desktop and then clicking Personalization.
As has been the case for years now. there are some new features that you might be unfamiliar with if you're coming from Windows XP. Fit. you can select any image you like and use it as a wallpaper. Tile or Center the image. When you select an image to be a wallpaper you have the option to Fill.

however. The image is not stretched.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s

Fill – This blows up the image until it fills your entire screen. so some parts of the image will not appear if the image does not have the same aspect ratio as your monitor.
http://www.com
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.smidgenpc.

http://www.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s

Fit – This blows up the image. but does not allow the image to expand beyond the borders of your display.

Stretch – This stretches the image so that it fills up your entire display.smidgenpc.com
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.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.

com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s

Tile – This repeats the image until it fills up your entire display.
http://www.

Center – This makes no modifications to the image's size and places the image in the center of your display.com
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.smidgenpc.

If you hover your cursor over an image a checkbox will appear in the upper left hand corner. You can also select to either have the wallpapers randomly shuffled.com
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.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. and the click the checkbox of another image.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
You can also make wallpaper slideshows in Windows 7. or you can let them display in order. You'll note that when you browse a folder for images in the Desktop Background window all of the images in the folder are displayed.
http://www. a drop-down menu will become active at the bottom of the window. If you click on this checkbox.smidgenpc. There are settings that range from 10 seconds to 1 day. This dropdown box lets you select how quickly Windows 7 will change between the wallpapers you selected.

At first glance a Library looks a lot like a folder.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. For example. However. making it more difficult to organize them. Pictures and Videos. This subtle change can make a world of difference in a number of situations. let's say that you have a home network with several computers on it. You have some documents that you would like to share with other computers on your network. You can add files and folders directly to the Library as well. Under normal circumstances this could end up being a real pain in the butt because your documents would be scattered over two locations. if have both folders added to the Documents Library (they are by default in Windows 7). you will be able to view all of the documents from both folders in one location.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Chapter 5 – Windows 7 Libraries
Going to the Library
One important. Windows 7 comes with four default libraries called Documents. However. When you open a Library you will be able to see all of the folders and documents in the Library.com
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. http://www. so you place them in your My Documents folder. A Library is not a folder. so you place them in your Public Documents folder. feature in Windows 7 is Libraries.smidgenpc. Instead it is a collection of folders that have their contents pooled together in a common area. Music. you also have some documents you don't want shared. Libraries are a new method of storage that is unlike anything found in Windows before. but often forgotten. However. the structure of the Library does not necessarily have anything to do with the structure of the files and folders on your hard drive.

This will open a window that displays the folders included in the Library. To do this you will need to be in the Library directory.
Creating and Managing Libraries
As mentioned. In the upper right hand corner of an open Library you will find an Arrange By dropdown menu. The final management option here is the Set Save Location option. but you can create a new Library. so in reality you are not saving files or folders to a Library when you drag them to or create them in that Library. Month.smidgenpc. or Tag. This drop down menu lets you sort the contents of the Library by Folder. You can select the folder that will be used for this by clicking on one of the folders displayed and then clicking the Set Save Location option. Right-click on an empty space in the directory and then hover over the New option. You are actually creating them in one of the folders that is part of the Library. Music. Day.
You can also manage libraries by dictating what folders will be included in a Library. To remove a folder you simply need to click on it and then select the Remove option. Remember.
http://www. You can't do this in a normal folder. Click on it to create your new Library.com
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. This will open up the Library option.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
You can also view folders in a Library in ways that you couldn't normally view them. Libraries are not folders. The Library directory can be found in Windows Explorer. Click on the Include a Folder option in order to browse for and add a new folder. Windows 7 comes with four default Libraries – Documents. These are fairly broad categories that will cover the needs of many users. Rating.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. Pictures and Videos. Right-click on a Library and then click on Properties.

that is instantly noticeable when you open the program. There are also a few new features.com
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. The interface options that are most commonly used are larger. One is the addition of new “artistic” brushes that can be accessed under the Brushes options. a very basic image editing program.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. while less commonly used options are smaller.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Chapter 6 – Windows 7 Software
The New Paint
Like every version of Windows. Paint has received a minor overhaul for Windows 7. The new version of Paint uses the “Ribbon” user interface that was pioneered in Microsoft Office. Windows 7 includes Paint. however. These brushes allow users to create
http://www. This user interface is designed with a ribbon of interface options at the very top of the program.smidgenpc.

smidgenpc. although it can't save the transparency. and for this reason it still only suitable for extremely basic word processing. of course.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
different textures and effects while editing a photo. Paint is still a bare-bones image editor. a first for Paint. Finally. and certainly not a replacement for GIMP or Photoshop. These changes do increase the program's basic functionality. Paint can view transparent PNG images. Wordpad still lacks a spellchecker.com
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. the functionality of Wordpad remains almost identical to previous versions.
The New Wordpad
Wordpad is also included in Windows 7. Although the interface makes Wordpad appear much more modern than the version found in Vista and XP. however. and it has had the same Ribbon interface applied to it. The only notable change is that Wordpad can now save documents to the OpenText Format. The shapes that are created using the Shapes tool are anti-aliased to make them appear smooth.
http://www. and this means you can open Wordpad saved documents with OpenOffice. The text box is more flexible and will now accept text that is too large to fit inside the text box's current size. and eliminate some of the program's most annoying problems.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.

determine the cost of a vehicle lease. However. the Calculator in Windows 7 has a few extra functions that were not previously available. the Calculator supports four functions that are labeled Worksheets. Finally. These Worksheets let you Calculate mortgage payments. New Unit Conversion and Date Calculation features have also been added. and calculate your fuel economy in miles per gallon or liters per kilometer.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
The New Calculator
If you open the Calculator in Windows 7 you will find that it has the same interface as previous versions of the Calculator.smidgenpc.com
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. The Calculator can now emulate a Scientific.
http://www.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. Programming or Statistics calculator.

This additional support plugs the largest gaps in the file support of previous media player versions. 3GP. Most of the changes to Windows Media Player 12 are under the hood. Some features from previous versions have been removed. Windows Media Player 12 is a minor update to Windows Media Player 11. You can even stream files from you home network over the Internet.264.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Windows Media Player 12
Windows 7 ships with the latest version of Microsoft's media player.
http://www. so you should be able to understand the new version quickly. The interface is not dramatically different.com
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. The Advanced Tag Editor has also been removed. The new player adds support for H. although you can still edit metadata by right-clicking on a file. AAC.smidgenpc. The player also now supports the ability to stream shared media files from your network. which are now used to sort music instead of a proprietary library database format. Media Link for Email. lettings you view content at home while you're on the road. MPEG-4. The Party Mode. Windows Media Player 12. The biggest interface change is related to the inclusion of Libraries. MP4 and MOV formats.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. The new player will also play songs from your iTunes library if they don't have DRM protection. and Color Chooser features are gone.

Windows Calendar’s functionality has been rolled into Windows Live Mail. Windows Movie Maker.smidgenpc.  Family Safety – This is a parental control utility. Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Calendar. These include Windows Mail. Windows Live Essentials includes update versions of these programs. These features were removed because they have been incorporated into a new package of programs called Windows Live Essentials.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Missing Software
When you first begin using Windows 7 you may find that some programs you used in Windows Vista don't seem to be installed.com
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. Windows 7 simply does not come with some programs that were included in Vista. the replacement for Windows Mail. The removal of these features can be frustrating if you relied on them. with the exception of Windows Calendar. but don't worry.
http://www.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. It can also be used to monitor web activity. This is not an error or the result of doing anything wrong during the installation process. Parents can set restrictions on how children browse the Internet. The Windows Live Essentials package also includes some additional programs.

It offers basic messaging functionality and can be used for voice chat.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.smidgenpc.
http://www. A file placed in a synced folder on one computer will be transferred to all synced computers.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
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Messenger – This is Microsoft's instant messenger program. Folders that are synced on separate computers will automatically communicate with each other using the Internet.
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Sync – Sync makes it possible to share files among multiple computers automatically.com
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.

It is compatible with Blogger. Writer can be used to publish blog posts without accessing the blog's web interface.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. LiveJournal.
Installing Windows Live Essentials will add the software missing from Vista and then some.com
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.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s

Writer – A desktop blog-publishing application.
http://www.smidgenpc. Note that while the Essentials package does include all the software listed above it is possible (at least for now) to download each program individually. Wordpress and several other blog formats.

From there. Then new default setting is the second most secure. because it was also one of the best security advancements that Windows Vista brought to the table. If you do this. this is the only way to thwart the installation of malware capable of taking over your computer. like installing a program.smidgenpc. UAC will act just as it did with Vista. Although it is annoying to have to confirm actions that you've already initiated.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
User Account Control
It’s not as a nnoying as Vista
User Account Control was one of the most hated features of Windows Vista. This was unfortunate. It will only set off a notification if a program tries to make changes to your computer. click on Change User Account Control Settings.
http://www.
The default setting is “secure enough” but not as secure sliding the bar up to the maximum security setting.com
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. and will always notify you when any change to your computer's settings is attempted. but it has had its default settings changed. You can access UAC by opening your control panel and then going to User Accounts. UAC is back in Windows 7.

Finally. It is a simple program compared to the more comprehensive suites from companies like Symantec. This is also less annoying. but it is less secure because a malware program that triggers to the alert will have an easier time continuing to work in the background. Microsoft Security Essentials is a pure antivirus component and does not integrate with the other security features of Windows 7 to any significant degree. and it includes Microsoft SpyNet.com
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.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. This is not recommended. but Microsoft does now offer a free antivirus program that you can download from the Microsoft website.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
You can also slide the bar down a notch so that notifications are still made. Windows 7 also does not ship with an antivirus program. a cloud antivirus solution that gathers data about known viruses from all computers
http://www. It is capable of running virus scans. but your desktop is not rendered inactive when the notification prompt appears. These users often end up downloading installing a fakeware program that advertises itself as an antivirus but is actually malware.smidgenpc. This has caused security issues not only because it leaves Windows vulnerable.
Microsoft Security Essentials
A Free Windows Antivirus
Windows has never shipped with an antivirus program included. you can turn UAC off entirely. Malware that manages to gain control of your computer will be able to make changes to your Windows settings without your knowledge. but also because users who don't know any better often hit Google in search of free antivirus programs.

It was able to deal with 96.
http://www.smidgenpc. It is not an antivirus program. Normally this screen will simply inform you that your computer is running normally.3% of all threats and returned very few false positives. such as Trend Micro Internet Security and Kingsoft Antivirus.
Windows Defender
Windows Defender is an anti-spyware program built into Windows 7.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
running Microsoft Security Essentials. which can be defined as a program that is attempting to gather data from your computer. the program doesn't offer much additional functionality. However.com
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. You can buy better protection. a fact that will be reflected in the Status section at the bottom of the window. According to AV-Comparatives. It is meant to only deal with spyware. It is not meant to deal with malware that is attempting to take over or damage your computer – that is what Security Essentials is meant to combat. Microsoft Security Essentials has solid antivirus protection. Windows Defender is set to scan your computer on a daily basis when you install Windows 7. but it is worth noting that Microsoft Security Essentials ranked better than some paid security software. Opening Windows Defender will open a window that tells you the current status of your computer's spyware security.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.

com
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. The automatic scanning settings will appear by default. One of the changes is associated with the way that Windows 7 handles networking. This is on by default and should be left on. Although you can initiate a manual scan. You can adjust the frequency of scans.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
At the top of the Windows Defender window you will see the Scan button. The scan process of Windows Defender is not taxing and won't cause a noticeable reduction in performance on a modern computer. When you install Windows 7 you will have the ability to create what is known as a HomeGroup. there are two checkboxes at the bottom.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. This functionality is enabled by default when you create a HomeGroup. You also can choose the time of the scan and the type of scan. If you want to change the schedule of the automatic scans you can do so by clicking on the Tools button. Firewall's functionality is essentially the same in Windows 7 as it was in Windows Vista. Windows Firewall first appeared in Windows XP and has been receiving updates ever since. but it essentially is your home network. This concept will be explained more in the next chapter. This makes it easier to share files and other information between different computers on your home network. so you may never have any reason to actually open the Windows Firewall window. Clicking on it will start a quick scan. Finally. as indicated by the magnifying glass icon. there is rarely any need to do so if the automatic daily scan is scheduled. The second checkbox forces Windows Defender to wait until your computer is idle before scanning. This is on by default. but can be turned off if you wish.
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Windows Firewall
The name of Windows Firewall really says it all. while clicking on the arrow beside the icon will open a drop-down menu with some additional scan options. Windows 7 has the ability to apply different firewall settings to the HomeGroup than it does to all other networks. The first forces Windows Defender to update its definitions before scanning. although you can only choose daily or weekly.smidgenpc. as indicated by the gear icon. although there are a few changes.

http://www. When you open the Windows Firewall window you will see options for both your home network and for public networks.smidgenpc.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. Each of these feature sets can be accessed and adjusted individually.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
However. unsecured WiFi routers in your area. but it can be handy if there are a lot of rogue. if you do want to change your settings. Windows Firewall will also display the type of network you are currently connected to – in most cases you'd already know this. you can do so by opening the Windows Firewall window in the Windows Control Panel. The fact that Windows Firewall can now treat the HomeGroup differently means that Windows Firewall is now finally a dual-more firewall.com
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.

The type of information that is shared can be changed as you desire.com
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. There are five checkboxes here. To make changes you need to open your HomeGroup window.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. Once you've opened the HomeGroup window you can find a section titled “Share libraries and printers” at the very top. Windows 7 attempts to address this by over-hauling how Windows handles home networking.
http://www. All computers that are part of a HomeGroup are able to share information easily. They can also access printers that are connected to other computers that are a part of the HomeGroup. and as part of this over-haul Microsoft has added a new networking feature known as HomeGroup. This is most easily done by typing “homegroup” in the Windows Search field. one for each of the default libraries created by Windows 7 and one for printers.smidgenpc.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Chapter 7: Windows 7 Networking – Easy As Pie
No Place Like HomeGroup
Home networking has always been a bit of a pain in the butt with Windows. Your HomeGroup is automatically created when you install Windows 7.

The icon appears as a series of reception bars. There also seems to be high chance of error when networking with a Windows XP machine – XP machines often do not show up as available in Windows 7 and vice versa. If you are upgrading from XP and you have multiple computers on a network you should try to upgrade all networked computers to Windows 7 at once. Once you have entered the password the connection will be made and you will be able to share information among the newly added computer and all other computers that are a part of the HomeGroup. Any computer on your home network that does not have Windows 7 installed can't be a part of the HomeGroup. nor is there any solution that is guaranteed to work. like those found on a cell phone. Networking will work as it did in Windows Vista. If you don't still have this from your installation you can view your HomeGroup password by clicking the “View or print the homegroup password” option on any computer already connected to the HomeGroup.
http://www. All of the wireless networks available will be displayed on the pop-up. The biggest improvement can be found in the wireless networking pop-up menu itself. If the network is password protected you will have to type in the encryption key. This is done in the “Share media with devices” section by marking the checkbox. The new pop-up makes it easy to switch wireless networks. Unfortunately. having a HomeGroup isn't of much use if you only have one computer in it. The one that you are currently using will be clearly labeled as “Connected” in bold type. That's it! You're now connected to the new network. click on that network in the pop-up menu and then click the Connect button. You will now be asked for your HomeGroup password. there doesn’t appear to be any clear reason why this occurs.com
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. I do have some bad news. right? It is.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
You can also share media with devices on your network (such as an Xbox 360) if you desire. Click on this.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. however – HomeGroup only works with other Windows 7 computers.
Wireless Networking Made Easy
Windows 7 also makes major improvements to how the operating system handles wireless networking. but the HomeGroup features are not available. Of course. The checkbox is only available if there are devices connected to your home network that Windows 7 is able to share media with. If you have Windows 7 installed and your computer has wireless Internet you can open the pop-up menu by clicking on the icon on the left of the taskbar. To switch networks.smidgenpc. To add additional computers to your HomeGroup you will need to access the Network and Sharing Center of the computer that you want to add. You can still network Windows XP and Vista. Sound's easy. Under the “View your active networks” section you should see HomeGroup: Available to Join.

You will be asked to enter the network's name. encryption type and security key. You can also change these settings at any time by right-clicking on a listed network and then clicking Properties from the menu.smidgenpc.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. but if you do need to change your wireless networking settings you can do so by clicking Open Network and Sharing Center at the bottom of the pop-up menu.com
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. The Manage Wireless Networks window will show a list of all wireless networks that are saved on your computer. Once you have done this you can click Next to save the network to the list. These are networks that you will be able to connect to automatically if they are detected by Windows. security type. click on Manage wireless networks on the left of the Network and Sharing Center window. Next.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
The new wireless networking pop-up menu is so efficient that you'll rarely have to access anything beyond the functionality it provides. You can add a new network by clicking the Add button.
http://www.

Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Chapter 8: Windows 7 and Gaming
A New Performance Champion?
Windows uses a proprietary graphics API (advanced programming interface) called DirectX. Worse. DirectX 11. DirectX 10 was a feature Windows XP could not support. Vista should have been a big deal for gamers.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. Windows 7 performs almost identically to Windows Vista in gaming benchmarks. it remains stuck using DirectX 9. Vista proved to be around 10% slower in games overall than Windows XP. and it was supposed to make games look better than anyone could previously imagine. However. game developers were slow to take advantage of DirectX 10. DirectX has been updated many times since its introduction in 1995. However. Although XP is still faster.com
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. such as Open GL). As a result. the landscape of Windows gaming has changed. It is DirectX that makes it possible for 3D games to function on a Windows computer (although there are competitors. and that means Windows 7 also offers slower performance in games than Windows XP. many gamers decided not to make the leap to Microsoft's latest operating system. the performance situation has not changed with Windows 7. Unfortunately.smidgenpc. Vista arrived with DirectX 10 and Windows 7 was released alongside the latest version. In theory. There are now numerous games that support DirectX http://www.

makes the graphics processing pipeline available to tasks unrelated to rendering an image. The difference is that DirectX 11. unlike 10. That meant a game developer who wanted tessellation had code their own tessellation feature into their game's engine.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
10. This means that a GPU can be used to perform tasks that would normally be given to the CPU. This is also a feature that has existed previously but is now being standardized so that it is easier for game developers to code for. and Microsoft has already introduced DirectX 11.
New Features in DirectX 11
DirectX 11 is the largest update to DirectX in some time. so those who are still using Vista will also be able to enjoy these enhancements. Although there are many changes. may actually live up to this hype. This makes a lot of sense in certain situations because a GPU is capable of handling certain tasks far better than a CPU.
http://www. that tessellation was part of the game's engine.smidgenpc.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. Like DirectX 10.
The second new feature.com
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. Adding tessellation to DirectX 11 finally gives game developers a standard. DirectX 11 is fully compatible with Windows Vista. this new update is meant to revitalize PC gaming and make jaw-dropping graphics possible. and that means it is much more likely that we'll see tessellation included in games. Compute Shaders. Although some games have had tessellation in the past. Tessellation is a technology that makes it possible for the polygon count of a 3D model to be dynamically increased or decreased depending on the amount of GPU power is available in a given system. the most important enhancements in DirectX 11 are the inclusion of Tessellation and Compute Shaders.

and the interface wasn't elegant.smidgenpc.exe into the Games Explorer window. The Games Explorer can be opened by searching for “Games” in the Windows Search field. such as MSN games. Unfortunately many games still don't add themselves automatically. lists the games installed on your computer. This section represents game services. The Games Explorer window itself is separated into two sections. and Games Explorer is now a useful feature. The second section is Games.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Using Games Explorer
Windows 7 includes the Games Explorer feature. The first is Game Providers.com
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. but it had extremely limited functionality – it basically acted as a folder into which games could be dropped. This was included in Vista. of course.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. so it can still be hard to keep the Games Explorer up to date.
http://www. Games Explorer has been updated in Windows 7 to address these issues. This. You can add a game to the Games Explorer by drag-and-dropping the game's .

http://www.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf.com
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. Finally. you can update games automatically by right-clicking on their icon and clicking the Check online for updates option.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Once a game is listed in Games Explorer you can view more information about it by clicking on its icon. It is also possible to view the recommended system requirements of the game as gauged by the Microsoft Windows Experience Index. Some of the information that might be listed is the game's box art and ESRB rating.smidgenpc.

The advice here will help new users become acquainted with Windows 7 and can also help those who are on the fence about purchasing Windows 7 decide if it would be a good idea. Like any operating system. Windows 7 has many hidden features and settings that you may not ever run across or need to use during your time with the operating system.         4 Common Windows 7 Problems and Fixes 15 Best Windows 7 Tips How to Change the Windows 7 Logon Screen How to Choose Between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 How to Configure and Use Windows 7's XP Mode How to Upgrade from XP to Windows 7 in 4 Easy Steps The Most Common Windows 7 Compatibility Issues Speeding Up Windows 7: Everything You Need to Know
http://www.smidgenpc. of course. check out the MakeUseOf articles below.Windows 7 Guide: From Newbies to Pro’s
Conclusion
That is all of the advice I have for you in this guide. There are. I hope that it served you as a proper introduction to Windows 7.com | Matt Smith MakeUseOf. To find out more information about Windows 7.com
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. many other components to Windows 7 that are not explained here.